[meteorite-list] Chinese Scientists Plan 22nd South Pole Expedition

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Sep 1 12:36:03 2005
Message-ID: <200509011629.j81GTm523093_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-09/01/content_474095.htm

Scientists plan 22nd South Pole expedition
By Wang Ying
China Daily
September 1, 2005

Chinese scientists will start their annual research expedition to the
South Pole in late November this year, the 22nd of its kind.

After scaling Dome A - the highest ice cap in Antarctica - late last
year, Chinese scientists will focus on inland research in the Antarctic
area this time, said Yang Huigen, deputy director of the Shanghai-based
Polar Research Institute of China, the scientist leading the expedition.

The expedition will mainly focus on three research fields including
polar area upper atmospheric physics, aerolithology and oceanography,
Yang told China Daily yesterday.

One of the major missions on this expedition is the Mount Groves
Project, which focuses on collecting and researching aeroliths in Mount
Groves area, 460 kilometres to China's Zhongshan Station on the coast.
An aerolith is a meteorite made of rock.

"Mount Groves area is believed to be one of the most beautiful place in
Antarctic and it is also an ideal place for aerolith research," Yang said.

"Located between Dome A and Zhongshan Station, Mount Groves area is
famous for its rich aerolith resources," he said. "Chinese scientists
have collected more than 4,480 pieces of aerolith in that area,
including some precious ones such as aeroliths from the Mars."

The expedition is expected to start on November 20 from Shanghai, aboard
the Xuelong (Snow Dragon) ship, a polar science research icebreaker.
Dozens of scientists in various fields including polar glaciology, upper
atmospheric physics, bioecology and physical oceanography are expected
to participate in the expedition. The research ship can hold up to 128
passengers, including 40 crew members.

An oceanographics survey will also be made during the one-month journey
from Shanghai to Zhongshan Station.

"The journey provides a golden opportunity for Chinese scientists to
make deep-sea surveys," said Yang, who has been to the Arctic four times
and to the Antarctic once.

The expedition will last for four and a half months from November to
March, the summer season in the South Pole. The expedition is also part
of the preparations to build the country's third permanent research
station in the Antarctic area, a project included in China's 11th
Five-Year Plan (2006-10).

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http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/2238/2005-9-1/88_at_269321.htm

Scientists to Collect Meteorites in Antarctica in 22nd Exploration
Xinhuanet
September 1, 2005

China is expected to launch the 22nd exploration to the South Pole in
November, aiming primarily to collect meteorites on the Grove Mountain
area.

Yang Huigen, deputy director of China's Polar Region Research Center,
said in an interview with a Shanghai newspaper that the scientific
expedition will last for more than four months.

In addition to searching for meteorites, the expedition team will also
investigate the feasibility of setting up China's third scientific
station in Antarctica, according to Yang.

So far, China has built two scientific stations in Antarctica, the Great
Wall Station and the Zhongshan Station.

The collection of meteorites will focus on the area of Grove Mountain,
which is abundant in meteorites. Chinese scientists have collected a
total of 4,480 pieces of meteorites in previous explorations, said Yang.

At present, the United States has more than 9,000 pieces of meteorites,
and Japan has about 20,000 pieces.

Scientists believe that meteorites will offer lots of information on the
evolution of the universe. The special environment at the South Pole has
helped preserve the meteorites, which because they are typically more
than 100,000 years old, are especially valuable to scientific research,
said Yang.

He said Chinese scientists will also take part in international
Antarctic research under ice lakes and into global warming.

Sixty-five-year-old Yan Qide, a member of China's first Antarctic
expedition team, said travelling to Antarctica by ordinary people has
become possible.

Currently, more than 10,000 international tourists visit Antarctica
annually. The Antarctic Great Wall Station receives more than 1,000
visitors every year, said Yan.

Ge Jianxiong, a professor with Fudan University who has taken part in
the 17th Chinese Antarctic expedition, said it is feasible to develop
tourism in Antarctica properly.

Yan emphasized that the last pure land on the earth should be well
protected in tourism development.
Received on Thu 01 Sep 2005 12:29:48 PM PDT